The Kings of Swing: 3rd Percussion

Michael Story's arrangement captures everything that makes swing delightful: syncopated rhythms, walking bass lines, and that irresistible triplet feel that students hear immediately in their ears. Grade 2 bands often struggle to find repertoire that's both musically honest and genuinely fun to perform, and this piece nails both. The two-minute length means it lands with impact without wearing out young players.

Cool, playful, and unmistakably festive. The swing waltz meter creates a smooth, sophisticated groove beneath the familiar melody, turning a reverent carol into something effervescent and contemporary. It's the sound of tradition getting a stylish makeover.

Grade 2 concert bands seeking holiday programming that reaches beyond the typical march-or-carol formula. This works equally well for December concerts and mid-winter morale boosters, and it introduces developing students to swing vocabulary without requiring extensive jazz experience from either the director or the students.

• Shape the swing eighth-note feel from the very first entrance; a light touch on the beat helps the kids hear the pocket rather than forcing it.
• Balance the solo voices (especially trumpet and saxophone lines) so they sit comfortably above the harmonic foundation without dominating.
• Keep the tempo steady and resist the urge to drag; the waltz meter will naturally feel slightly spacious, but the swing quality depends on consistent forward motion.
• Let the bass section lock the groove early in rehearsals; once they're solid, the rest of the band will find the swing feel much more naturally.

Open a holiday concert with this piece to reset the energy and show audiences that Christmas music can swing. It pairs beautifully with more traditional sacred selections later in the program, creating nice contrast without feeling scattered. At just two minutes, it's also an ideal opener for a shorter winter assembly program.

• Swing eighth-note articulation and phrasing
• Reading and performing in 3/4 meter with syncopated rhythmic figures
• Voice independence within ensemble sections (walking bass, harmonic accompaniment, melodic lines)
• Rhythmic precision in a groove-based context